Autumn's Prelude

As we see the leaves turning

to the soft music of Autumn's prelude,

we begin to think of bonfires and pumpkin patches,

of hayrides

and raking piles of leaves.

My dear blogging buddy, Pom Pom, and I

have challenged ourselves to begin a nature journal

on the first day of Autumn this year.

Will you join us?  This is plenty of advance notice, 

so take your time to find a lovely unlined journal,

or a simple sketchbook.  

Will you draw in colored pencil?  

Sketch in charcoal and color in with watercolor? 

 Will you snap photos to draw from in the comfort of your cozy home, 

or will you sit in a cardigan on a hillside,

 sketching dreamily,

 as the wind tugs at your hair?

I will be choosing my notebook and adding a little decoration to the cover and/or the "title page."  Will share photos of my creative endeavors here soon.  Hope to find that several friends are joining in and sharing on their blogs, when autumn arrives.  It will be here before you know it!

Enlarge this photo if you can, and look for the line of geese flying in their traditional "V."

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you joy.

Sunday Stroll - Mostly Edible Landscaping

This year we added a new kitchen garden bed to the property.

Because the bed is in a prominent location near the house,

it needed to be decorative as well as functional.

It was fun to mix interesting looking edibles,

with herbs and flowers, some edible, some not.

These artichokes are a relative of thistle 

and you can see the strong family resemblance.

Both roses and rosehips are edible,

as well as colorful and nutritious 

(especially the hips which are quite high in Vitamin C.)

Dianthus, the old fashioned favorite "pinks,

a lovely to look add, to smell, and to sprinkle in salad or desserts.

Pink Wave Petunias are decidedly NOT edible, 

but they made a pretty border for the garden

and filled this new bed in quickly.

Thai basil is a particularly beautiful cultivar of basil,

with purple stems and attractive leaves.

We put many in this garden, along with large leafed Italian basil.

Both were delicious!

Speaking of attractive leaves:

Pineapple Sage

Chickpea (aka Garbanzo Beans)

Rose leaves,

and Garden Sage

added to the pageant of green beauty.

Blue Borage flowers attracted honey bees, bumble bees

and other, less familiar, pollinators

by the dozens all summer long.

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you peace.

When you have the chance, head on over to Steve's blog, Out on the Prairie, 

to share in his stroll through Sun and Clouds.

Autumn's Approach

While we are picking blackberries, 

ripened by the summer sun,

While we are planning long lazy days at the beach,

While we are eating watermelon fresh from the garden,

and summer sweetness runs dripping 

down our sun-warmed skin,

While our attention is diverted...

Autumn is quietly creeping in.

We find her flags flying, 

beneath an August-Blue sky.

As she sings of comfort,

and the meadow grasses nod their sleepy heads.

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you a beautiful end of August.

Sunday Stroll - August Gold

Will you walk through the garden with me,

on a golden day in August?

Will you marvel with me over the thriving dill patch,

alive with tiny wild creatures?

Will you hold your breath as a large moth

emerges from the soil

along with golden Kennebec potatoes?

Will you be surprised, like me,

to find a round glowing pumpkin,

already ripe?

Pumpkin Jack (aka PJ) the garden cat, will weave between our feet,

as we walk to the chicken yard,

to find the golden rod bursting into bloom.

Can we linger for a while?

Will you stay and breathe the sweet air,

as August warms the earth?

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you peace.

If you have a few moments, please check out Steve's stroll Out on the Prairie.  

That first photo may take your breath away!

Root Cellar

 This newly completed root cellar is a blank canvas. Can't wait to color it in with the hues of harvest!

Wherever you are, whatever the weather,  I wish you abundant joy.

Sunday Stroll - Farming

Our garlic has been drying in open air racks for two weeks now. Yesterday I spent hours trimming enough garlic to fill orders at several local markets.

The hard, dry stalks went into an over sized wheel barrow.

The best heads of garlic went into boxes for delivery on Monday morning.

The less perfect heads went into a big pail, for storage in the root cellar. This will be our own garlic for the year. These taste great and the quality is still excellent, they just aren't as "magazine perfect" as those we sell, and those we plant for next year.

We began the day with a walk through an antique fair at the county fairground, then worked all afternoon. It was a beautiful day , but I was ready to rest in the farmhouse when my work was finally done.

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you peace.

Catch up with Steve at Out on the Prairie for his stroll.

Technical. DIfficulties

I am having trouble with some technology. I have been unable to acceds the comments on my blog. I hope to have things unraveled and sorted out soon!